I've had a favorite steel frame bike break out with rust (probably from my own sweat) and I didn't like it. I had the frame bead blasted and I rattle can painted it, but it was never the same.

Now I go with carbon frame (over built, not much lighter than steel, but strong) on my adventure road touring bike or aluminum frame with carbon fork and carbon handlebars on my bikepacking 29er plus bike. I still have several steel frame bikes, but I'm careful about getting them wet. Or sweating on them. The last steel bike I bought died when I was rear ended, on the way back home from a bike ride. I took that as a sign. My carbon Adventure bike survived a gravel road crash/ slide with no problems. It feels so great when I ride, as does my bikepacking bike. Steel was great back in the day, but it eventually rusts. That's my only complaint. Aluminum and carbon don't rust and can be just as comfortable.